Launching device



Sept. 12, H ALDRlN ET AL 3,3403% LAUNCHING DEVICE Filed May 5, 1965 INVENTORS HENRY W/L HEL M ALDE/N ited States The present invention relatesto a launching device for missiles of the rocket type, and moreparticularly, to a launching device of the kind comprising a launchingstand and a launching rail which is attached to the rocket prior to theloading of the rocket on the stand and becomes detached from the rocketwhen the same is launched.

Obviously, it is desirable that rockets can be rapidly and convenientlyloaded on a launching stand and that the stand occupies as little spaceas possible, since the available space is often limited, especially whenthe stand is mounted on the deck of small naval craft.

Launching devices of the general kind 'above referred to as heretoforeknown are generally rather bulky and require lengthwise loading of thestand, that is, in the direction parallel to the longitudinal axis ofthe rocket. Such lengthwise loading requires considerable space forhandling the rocket and its launching rail and is inherently a ratherslow operation.

It is a broad object of the invention to provide a novel and improvedlaunching device of the general kind above referred to which permits asubstantialy reduction of loading time and requires considerably lessspace for the device and for handling of the rocket during loading.

Another more specific object of the invention is to provide a novel andimproved launching device of the general kind above referred to withwhich the rocket and its rail attached thereto can be loaded transverseof the lengthwise axis of the rocket rather than parallel thereto asheretofore necessary. As is evident, such side-wise loading of therocket eliminates the heretofore necessary space, at least equal to thelength of the rocket, in front of or behind the launching stand.

Another more specific object of the invention is to provide a novel andimproved launching device of the general kind above referred to whichincludes fastening means for rapidly and conveniently attaching thelaunching rail supporting the rocket to the stand and detaching the railfrom the stand for reloading after launching of the rocket.

Still another more specific object of the invention is to provide anovel and improved launching device of the general kind above referredto, the stand of which constitutes part of a floor or base such as adeck of a naval craft and is pivotal about an axis transverse of itslengthwise axis between a position substantially flush with the deck andan angular launching position.

Other and further objects, features and advantages of the invention willbe pointed out hereinafter and set forth in the appended claimsconstituting part of the application.

The single figure of the accompanying drawing shows a perspective viewof a launching device according to the invention by way of illustrationand not by way of limit'ation.

Referring now to the figure more in detail, there is diagrammaticallyshown a stern of a ship such as a small naval craft and moreparticularly the quarter deck of the ship. Two launching devices areshown, the one closer to the observer being in its raised or launchingposition, and the other in its loading position. Both devices comprise alaunching stand 2 and 3, respectively. Each launching stand constitutesa part of deck 1 and is suband Erik Birger Kindrot,

stantially flush with the deck when the device is in its loadingposition as it is shown for a stand 2. The launching devices should bevisualized as being alike and the invention is described in detail inconnection with the device having the stand 3. The stand is mounted ontwo generally triangular support plates or brackets 4 and 5 which arepivotal about an axis 15 located below deck 1 and arranged in a fashionconventional for pivot axes of that kind. The two support plates orbrackets are secured to the bottom side of stand 3 which also mounts aplate 6 which has in its edges extending transverse of the lengthwiseaxis of stand 3 guide tracks or grooves 7 and 8 in which are slidablyreceived tongues or guide rails 9 and 10 formed on raised portions of alaunching rail 11 and facing each other. Tracks or grooves 7 and 8 facein opposite direction to prevent lengthwise displacement of thelaunching rail and the rocket supported therefrom. As is evident, thedescribed groove-tongue or guide track-rail arrangement also may bereversed, that is, the receiving members may be provided on thelaunching rail and the engaging members on plate 6. Launching rail 11supports a rocket 12 which is detachably suspended therefrom in aconventional manner which does not constitute a part of the invention.

The launching device and more specifically, the stand thereof, may bepivoted from the flush loading position shown for stand 2 into anyselected angular launching position as shown for stand 3. The raising orlowering of the stand may be effected by a conventional lifting deviceindicated at 14 and secured to the stand by conventional fastening meansindicated by a bolt 14a.

The launching device as hereinbefore described, is operated in thefollowing manner:

Let it be assumed that the device is in the loading position shown forstand 2. A launching rail 11 with a rocket r attached thereto is nowslipped into the aforedescribed fastening means 7, 9 and 8, 10. As it isevident, loading of the device is effected by bringing the launchingrail and the rocket attached thereto to the stand parallel to thelengthwise axis of the stand, that is, sidewise. After loading of thedevice, the stand thereof is raised, for instance, into the positionshown for stand 3, and the rocket may now be fired. After the firing ofthe rocket, the stand is again lowered.

A loading magazine now removes the empty launching rail from the standand replaces it by a new launching rail with a rocket attached thereto.Several conventional loading devices may be used in connection with thelaunching device according to the invention. It has been found that aloading device of the drum type comprising a magazine rotatable about anaxis parallel to deck 1 is particularly suitable. In such a magazine,the launching rails with rockets attached thereto are arranged incircumferentially spaced lengthwise compartments so that the ends ofeach launching rail are supported at the end walls of the rotarymagazine of the loading device. When such loading device is rotatedstep-by-step, empty rails are successively transferred to the rotarymagazine and new launching rails with a rocket attached thereto is fedto the stand as previously previously described.

The loading device as such does not constitute part of the invention.Accordingly, it is not illustrated or described in detail but onlydiagrammatically indicated at 16.

While the invention has been described in detail with respect to acertain now preferred example and embodiment of the invention, it willbe understood by those skilled in the art, after understanding theinvention, that various changes and modifications may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention, and it isintended, therefore, to cover all such changes and modifications in theappended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A launching device for launch missiles, said device comprising incombination;

a generally horizontal launching platform including an opening andconstituting the top wall of an enclosed loading space;

an elongated launching stand having a peripheral outline substantiallyfitting said opening;

a launching rail for releasably securing a missile thereto;

mounting means supporting one end of said stand pivotally about an axistransverse of the lengthwise axis of the stand and located atsubstantially the level of the platform for pivoting the stand between aloading position substantially flush with said platan elongatedlaunching stand having a peripheral outline substantially fitting saidopening;

a launching rail for releasably securing a missile thereto;

mounting means supporting one end of said stand fastening means on saidlaunching stand on the side thereof facing the platform for attachingsaid launching rail to the stand in the loading position form andcovering the opening therein and a launchthereof from underneath themissile, said fastening ing position upwardly slanted in reference tosaid means including lengthwise spaced fastening memplatform; and herson the launching stand and corresponding fastening means on saidlaunching stand on the side lengthwise spaced fastening members on thelaunchthereof facing the platform for attaching said ing rai-l, thefastening members on the launching rail launching rail to the stand inthe loading position including lengthwise spaced and crosswise extendingthereof from underneath the missile, said fastening raised portions eachhaving a lengthwise groove, and means including lengthwise spacedfastening memthe fastening members on the launching stand inbers on thelaunching stand and corresponding cluding lengthwise spaced tonguesextending crosslengthwise spaced fastening members on the launchwise ofthe rail and engageable with said grooves, ing rail, the fasteningmembers on the stand includw y the fasetning members are engageable hing a pair of parallel lengthwise spaced guide tracks each other in thedirection transverse of the lengthextending crosswise of the stand andthe fastening Wise axis of the launching stand and the launching memberson the launching rail including a pair of rail. parallel lengthwisespaced bars extending crosswise R f renc s Ci e pf tllielailllnchngtiailfanil being engaageable with said UNITED STATES P ATENTSrac s w ere y e as enrng mem ers are engageable with each other in thedirection transverse to 55?; et 89' 1819 the lmnchng stand and the2,709,947 6/1955 Woods s9 1 s15 2 A launchin device for launch missilessaid device 2978959 4/1961 Ca-flberg b 2,981,150 4/1961 Miller 89l.815compnsmg l 3,099,936 8/1963 Gaborc et a1. 89-1.8l5 X a generallyhorizontal launching platform lncludlng 3,215,040 11/1965 Kossan et aL89 1.819

an opening and constituting the top wall of an enclosed loading space;40 SAMUEL W. ENGLE, Primary Examiner.

1. A LAUNCHING DEVICE FOR LAUNCH MISSILES, SAID DEVICE COMPRISING IN COMBINATION; A GENERALLY HORIZONTAL LAUNCHING PLATFORM INCLUDING AN OPENING AND CONSTITUTING THE TOP WALL OF AN ENCLOSED LOADING SPACE; AN ELONGATED LAUNCHING STAND HAVING A PERIPHERAL OUTLINE SUBSTANTIALLY FITTING SAID OPENING; A LAUNCHING RAIL FOR RELEASABLY SECURING A MISSILE THERETO; MOUNTING MEANS SUPPORTING ONE END OF SAID STAND PIVOTALLY ABOUT AN AXIS TRANSVERSE OF THE LENGTHWISE AXIS OF THE STAND AND LOCATED AT SUBSTANTIALLY THE LEVEL OF THE PLATFORM FOR PIVOTING THE STAND BETWEEN A LOADING POSITION SUBSTANTIALLY FLUSH WITH SAID PLATFORM AND COVERING THE OPENING THEREIN AND A LAUNCHING POSITION UPWARDLY SLANTED IN REFERENCE TO SAID PLATFORM; AND FASTENING MEANS ON SAID LAUNCHING STAND ON THE SIDE THEREOF FACING THE PLATFORM FOR ATTACHING SAID LAUNCHING RAIL TO THE STAND IN THE LOADING POSITION THEREOF FROM UNDERNEATH THE MISSILE, SAID FASTENING MEANS INCLUDING LENGTHWISE SPACED FASTENING MEMBERS ON THE LAUNCHING STAND AND CORRESPONDING LENGTHWISE SPACED FASTENING MEMBERS ON THE LAUNCHING RAIL, THE FASTENING MEMBERS ON THE STAND INCLUDING A PAIR OF PARALLEL LENGTHWISE SPACED GUIDE TRACKS EXTENDING CROSSWISE OF THE STAND AND THE FASTENING MEMBERS ON THE LAUNCHING RAIL INCLUDING A PAIR OF PARALLEL LENGTHWISE SPACED BARS EXTENDING CROSSWISE OF THE LAUNCHING RAIL AND BEING ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID TRACKS WHEREBY THE FASTENING MEMBERS ARE ENGAGEABLE WITH EACH OTHER IN THE DIRECTION TRANSVERSE TO THE LENGTHWISE AXIS OF THE LAUNCHING STAND AND THE LAUNCHING RAIL. 